Chile tails China in rush for electric buses and air quality

It’s been a big week for climate news from Chile.

On Thursday 13th December I attended the launch of Santiago’s silent, zero emission electric buses. Backed by the Chinese made machines, in the heavily-polluted Parque O’Higgins, Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera explained the air quality benefits the buses would bring.

After China, Chile now has more electric buses than any other country in the world. 100 buses began operation this Saturday 15th December. 100 more will be delivered in 2019 alongside 490 very low emission Euro VI diesel buses.

Piñera explained how the new fleet will reduce not only air pollution, but contribute to reducing global climate change. On Friday 14th December it was announced that Santiago will be taking the host baton from Katowice, Poland for the 2019 UN climate talks at COP25 Chile.